Top 8 Budget Bows for 2017

Not everyone can pay $1,000 or more for a new bow. Thankfully, manufacturers produce tech-packed bows packed that are still easy on the wallet.
Top 8 Budget Bows for 2017

As much as we all love the fit and feel of a shiny new flagship, and as much as we crave shooting them each and every year, any bowhunter could pick up one of the budget bows included here and still have the season of their life. Point consumers in this direction for budget-friendly bows, and watch your shop's profits grow.

Bear LS-2

A staple in the arena of providing bowhunters with quality and economical bow options, Bear offers the Legend Series LS-2, which is sure to be a top consumer pick. Outfitted with quality Trophy Ridge accessories, this 31 1/8-inch axle-to-axle, 4-pound rig is out-of-the-box field ready. Available in peak draw weights of 60 to 70 pounds and draw-length adjustable between 23 and 30 inches, the LS-2 will appeal to a wide range of bowhunters, and its $550 price will make their ear-to-ear smiles spread a little wider. The single S7 Cam with DrawDial doesn’t require a bow press to make draw-length adjustment, and we found the bow ultra-easy to tune. The rig features a 6 ¾-inch brace height, boasts a smooth draw and non-abrupt transition to its 80-percent letoff, and is generally quiet and dead in the hand at the shot.

For more information, visit www.beararchery.com.

Mission Archery Zone

Wearing a $339 price tag, the Mission Zone will be a cheered budget bow. With a mass weight of just 3.86 pounds, draw-length adjustment between 19 and 30 inches and draw-weight adjustment between 13 and 70 pounds, there aren’t many bowhunters on the planet this rig won’t conform to. Plus, being under $400, the Zone allows customers to drop a little extra coin on quality accessories at your shop. The Zone features an uber-forgiving brace height of 7 7⁄8 inches, measures 28 inches axle to axle and hits speeds up to 300 fps. The easily adjustable F.I.T. Cams don’t require the use of a bow press, and we were punching perfect paper tears in no time. The draw is smooth, as is transition to the bow’s 80 percent letoff, and shot vibration/noise is minimal. The Zone is offered in Lost Camo OT Brown, Black and an array of catchy solid color options.

For more information, visit www.missionarchery.com.

PSE Archery Infinity

A sleek and stylish killer right out of the box, PSE’s 2017 Infinity bow package features a high-performance single-cam model showcasing 15 limb-bolt turns of draw-weight adjustment (50-, 60- and 70-pound peak draw weights available). Measuring 30 inches axle to axle, the bow is maneuverable, stable at full draw and, thanks to the Infinity One Cam, very smooth. The bow sports a generous 7-inch brace height, is draw-length adjustable between 24 1⁄2 and 30 inches without a bow press and hits speeds up to 325 fps. Available in Mossy Oak Break-Up Country and Skullworks, the bow offers a thin, flat-backed and angled to perfection grip. The Infinity comes with a rest, sight, quiver, stabilizer and wrist sling.

For more information, visit www.pse-archery.com.

Diamond Provider

Fitted with Diamond’s R.A.K. system, the 310 fps Provider, which measures 31 inches axle to axle, is one of our budget favorites. Weighing just 3.3 pounds and offering draw-weight adjustment between 20 and 70 pounds, the Provider, available in a $499 package, sports a 7 ½-inch brace height and a single-cam system that's smooth and easy to tune. The rig is draw-length adjustable from 25 1/2 to 31 inches, and a bow press is not required to make changes to the rotating modules. The bow offers an 80 percent letoff, and though the bow does pop forward slightly in the hand at the shot, it was pleasantly quiet. The Diamond Provider is available in Mossy Oak Break-Up Country and is fitted with Octane accessories.

For more information, visit www.diamondarchery.com.

Hoyt PowerMax

Featuring a split-limb design on a Hoyt TEC riser and an all-new PowerMax Cam & ½ system, the Hoyt PowerMax ($499) heeds the “more bang for your buck” call. Measuring 31 inches axle to axle and weighing just 3.8 pounds, this airy rig is an ideal choice for any bowhunting adventure. Peak draw weight ranges are numerous — 40, 50, 60, 65 and 70, adjustable 10 pounds down from peak. The bow features a found-to-be-forgiving 6 ¾-inch brace height and draw-length options range from 25 1/2 to 30 inches. Hitting speeds near 330 fps (328 fps ATA), the PowerMax packs plenty of punch, and the bow promises a generous valley and 75 percent letoff. We  appreciated the Pro-Fit Grip, which was specifically designed to reduce torque.

For more information, visit www.hoyt.com.

Darton Ranger Quad

“Technology at a bargain…” That’s the tagline Darton has pinned to its 28-inch axle-to-axle Darton Ranger Quad ($438). Built on the popular Ranger Riser, the bow boasts a mass weight of just 3.4 pounds but is built like a tank. The Quad Limbs and a DualSync Cam system with a set of draw-length modules designed to fit compound shooters from 22 1/2 to 28 inches without a bow press were appreciated. Also pleasing is the bow’s 25- to 60-pound draw-weight range. With the Ranger Quad, shooters can grow with the bow. Other notable features include a forgiving 7-inch brace height and 80 percent letoff.

For more information, visit www.dartonarchery.com.

Martin Archery Carbon Featherweight Migas Touch

A carbon bow bearing a price tag that doesn’t break the bank, Martin’s Carbon Featherweight Migas Touch ($540) pushes the scale to just 3.55 pounds and, in our opinion, sports a classy look. The riser was built to be both durable and warm to the touch. In addition, the bow’s Smoke Cams promise arrows speeds up to 325 fps. The Migas measures 32 inches between the axles, boasts an 80 percent letoff, offers a peak draw weight of 70 pounds and features a draw-length range of 27 to 30 inches. Currently only available in right-handed models, the Migas, with a 6 3/8-inch brace height, comes cloaked in Mossy Oak Infinity or Black Flame.

For more information, visit www.martinarchery.com.

Crosman Eos Hunter

An affordable, hard-hitting bow with a generous draw-weight range of 20 to 70 pounds and a draw-length range of 19 to 31 inches, the Eos Hunter ($420) from Crosman turned our heads.. The bow is fitted with a forgiving 7-inch brace height and comes with a ready-for-the-field kit that includes a fiber-optic sight, wheel peep sight, nock loop, full-capture arrow rest, stabilizer, wrist sling and quiver. The riser is constructed from high-grade aluminum and the quad-limbs are compression fiberglass. With a mass weight of 4.1 pounds without included accessories, this rig is an ideal choice for those looking to get into the sport without spending and arm and a leg.

For more information, visit www.crosman.com.



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